Infant highchair

ABSTRACT

An infant highchair includes a standing frame, a seat and a locking mechanism. The seat is pivotally connected with the standing frame and has a seating surface, the seat being rotatable between a first and a second position, and the locking mechanism being operable to lock the seat in the first and second position. The first position allows a child to sit in contact with the seating surface, and the second position is suitable to receive installation of a removable child seat over the seat while disabling seating of a child on the seating surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application respectively claims priority to U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/695,909 filed on Jul. 10, 2018, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to infant highchairs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Some infant highchairs currently available on the market may have a seatand a tray that are removable from the highchair frame for use as astandalone infant booster seat. When the booster seat is removed fromthe highchair frame, there is no longer a usable seating surface on thehighchair frame, which becomes useless.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved highchair for infants thatcan be more flexible in use and address at least the foregoing issues.

SUMMARY

The present application describes an infant highchair having a seatrotatable to convert the infant highchair to multiple configurations ofuse. According to one aspect, the infant highchair includes a standingframe, a seat and a locking mechanism. The seat is pivotally connectedwith the standing frame and has a seating surface, the seat beingrotatable between a first and a second position, and the lockingmechanism being operable to lock the seat in the first and secondposition. The first position allows a child to sit in contact with theseating surface, and the second position is suitable to receiveinstallation of a removable child seat over the seat while disablingseating of a child on the seating surface.

According to another aspect, the infant highchair includes a standingframe having a calf support portion, a seat pivotally connected with thestanding frame and having a seating surface, and a locking mechanism.The seat is rotatable relative to the standing frame and the calfsupport portion between a first and a second position, and the lockingmechanism is operable to lock the seat in the first and second position.The first position allows a child to sit in contact with the seatingsurface, and the second position is suitable to receive installation ofa removable child seat over the seat while disabling seating of a childon the seating surface.

According to yet another aspect, the infant highchair includes astanding frame, a seat pivotally connected with the standing frame, anda locking mechanism. The seat includes a seating surface, and a backrestportion and a calf support portion disposed adjacent to each other thatface two opposite directions, the seat being rotatable relative to thestanding frame between a first and a second position, and the lockingmechanism being operable to lock the seat in the first and secondposition. The first position allows a child to sit in contact with theseating surface, and the second position is suitable to receiveinstallation of a removable child seat over the seat while disablingseating of a child on the seating surface, the backrest portion beingconfigured to provide resting support for a child's back when the seatis in the first position, and the calf support portion being configuredto provide support for the calves of a child when the seat is in thesecond position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an infanthigh chair;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the infant highchair of FIG. 1in a different configuration;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating exemplary adjustment of the infanthighchair between the two configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the infant highchair of FIG. 1 with aremovable child seat installed over a seat of the infant highchair;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating further construction detailsof the infant highchair;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a locking mechanism provided inthe infant highchair;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a calf support portionprovided in the infant highchair;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating a portion of a safety mechanismprovided in the infant highchair;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of aninfant highchair; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the infant highchair of FIG.9 in a different configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating an embodiment of aninfant highchair 100A in two different configurations, and FIG. 3 is aside view illustrating exemplary adjustment of the infant highchair 100Abetween the two configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring toFIGS. 1-3, the infant highchair 100A can include a standing frame 102and a seat 104 assembled with each other.

The standing frame 102 can include a front leg portion 106 and a rearleg portion 108. The front leg portion 106 can have two leg segments106A, and a transversal segment 106B connected between the two legsegments 106A near the lower ends thereof. Likewise, the rear legportion 108 can have two leg segments 108A, and a transversal segment108B connected between the two leg segments 108A near the lower endsthereof. Moreover, a plurality of wheels 110 can be respectivelyprovided on at least the front leg portion 106 to facilitate transportof the infant highchair 100A.

The front leg portion 106 can be pivotally connected with the rear legportion 108 about a pivot axis P. For example, two coupling parts 112can respectively connect pivotally the two leg segments 106A of thefront leg portion 106 with the two leg segments 108A of the rear legportion 108 about the pivot axis P. The two coupling parts 112 can besimilar in construction and can be arranged at a left and right side ofthe standing frame 102. For example, each coupling part 112 can beslidably connected with one corresponding leg segment 106A of the frontleg portion 106, and pivotally connected with one corresponding legsegment 108A of the rear leg portion 108. The coupling parts 112 canrespectively slide along the leg segments 106A of the front leg portion106 to adjust a height of the infant highchair 100A. Each leg segment106A of the front leg portion 106 can respectively extend outside thecorresponding coupling part 112 at two opposite sides thereof so thateach leg segment 106A can have an upper portion 114 located above thecoupling part 112 when the infant highchair 100A stands on a floorsurface.

According to an example of construction, each coupling part 112 caninclude a latch (not shown) operable to lock the standing frame 102 inan unfolded state for use and unlock the standing frame 102 for foldingof the infant highchair 100A. A release actuator 116 exposed outward foroperation may be connected with the latch of the coupling part 112 via acable (not shown), whereby the release actuator 116 is operable to causethe latch to unlock for rotation of the front leg portion 106 relativeto the rear leg portion 108.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat 104 can have a seating surface 118and a backrest portion 120, and is suitable to receive a child sittingin contact with the seating surface 118 with the child's back supportedby the backrest portion 120. According to an example of construction,the seat 104 including the seating surface 118 and the backrest portion120 may be formed integrally as a unitary part. The seat 104 ispivotally connected with the standing frame 102 about a pivot axis Y.For example, the upper portions 114 of the leg segments 106A can berespectively connected fixedly with a bar segment 122 extendingtransversally from a left to a right side of the standing frame 102, andthe seat 104 can be pivotally connected with the bar segment 122 forrotation about the pivot axis Y. The pivot connection of the seat 104can exemplarily include assembling the bar segment 122 through two pivotbrackets 123 that are fixedly connected with the seat 104. The seat 104is thereby rotatable relative to the standing frame 102 between multiplepositions corresponding to different configurations of use. For example,the seat 104 may be rotated to a first position where the seatingsurface 118 faces upward, which allows a child to sit on the seat 104 incontact with the seating surface 118. The first position of the seat 104is shown in FIG. 1, and can correspond to a first configuration of usein which a child can directly sit on the seat 104 integrated with theinfant highchair 100A.

Moreover, the seat 104 may be rotated to a second position where theseating surface 118 faces downward, which is suitable to receive theinstallation of a removable child seat over the seat 104 while disablingseating of a child on the seating surface 118. The second position ofthe seat 104 is shown in FIG. 2, and can correspond to a secondconfiguration of use in which a removable child seat can be installed onthe infant highchair 100A for seating a child thereon. FIG. 3 is a sideview illustrating the seat 104 rotated to an intermediate angularposition between the first and second position, and FIG. 4 is a sideview illustrating a removable child seat 200 installed over the seat 104in the second position. Examples of removable child seats installable onthe infant highchair 100A in the second configuration of use caninclude, without limitation, booster seats.

As better shown in FIG. 2, the standing frame 102 may include a supportplatform 124 configured to receive the mount of a removable child seatwhen the seat 104 is in the second position. The support platform 124may be assembled with the leg segments 106A in a region between theupper portions 114 of the leg segments 106A. For example, the supportplatform 124 may be fixedly attached to the bar segment 122.

The seating surface 118 of the seat 104 can move around the supportplatform 124 when the seat 104 rotates relative to the standing frame102. For example, the seating surface 118 can be located above thesupport platform 124 when the seat 104 is in the first position andbelow the support platform 124 when the seat 104 is in the secondposition. When the seat 104 is in the first position, the supportplatform 124 is upwardly covered by the seat 104, which disablesmounting of a removable child seat on the support platform 124. When theseat 104 is in the second position, the seat 104 can uncover the supportplatform 124, which allows a removable child seat to be installed overthe seat 104 at least partially supported by and in contact with thesupport platform 124. For example, the support platform 124 can have anupper surface 124A configured to restrictedly position and support theremovable child seat. Structures that may be provided on the uppersurface 124A of the support platform 124 for engagement of a removablechild seat may include, without limitation, recesses, protrusions andthe like.

According to an example of construction, the standing frame 102 canfurther include a calf support portion 126 fixedly connected with thesupport platform 124. The calf support portion 126 may be formedintegrally with the support platform 124 as a unitary part, or may befixedly attached to the support platform 124 via a fastener. During use,the seat 104 can rotate relative to the standing frame 102 and the calfsupport portion 126 between the first and second position, and the calfsupport portion 126 is adapted to provide support for the calves of achild in both the first and second configurations of use correspondingto the first and second positions of the seat 104. For example, the calfsupport portion 126 can extend downward from a front of the seatingsurface 118 of the seat 104 when the seat 104 is in the first position(as better shown in FIG. 1), and can extend downward from a front of aremovable child seat 200 installed on the support platform 124 when theseat 104 is in the second position (as better shown in FIG. 4). Thebackrest portion 120 of the seat 104 may be disposed adjacent to thecalf support portion 126 when the seat 104 is in the second position. Inaddition, the calf support portion 126 may include a footrest 127adapted to support the feet of a child. According to an example ofconstruction, the position of the footrest 127 on the calf supportportion 126 may be adjustable according to the length of the child'slegs.

In conjunction with FIGS. 1-4, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustratingfurther construction details of the infant highchair 100A, and FIG. 6 isan enlarged view illustrating a locking mechanism 130 provided in theinfant highchair 100A. Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the infant highchair 100Afurther includes a locking mechanism 130 operable to lock the seat 104in the first and second position. The locking mechanism 130 can includea latch 132 and a spring 134 (shown with phantom lines in FIG. 6).

According to an example of construction, the latch 132 can be assembledwith the seat 104. For example, the latch 132 can be disposed centrallyin a cavity 136 of the seat 104, and can be pivotally connected with theseat 104 about a pivot axis Z. The pivot axis Z can extend substantiallyvertically when the infant highchair 100A stands on a floor surface andthe seat 104 is in any of the first and second positions. The latch 132can engage with the standing frame 102 to lock the seat 104 in the firstand second position, and disengage from the standing frame 102 to unlockthe seat 104 for rotation of the seat 104 between the first and secondposition. For example, the latch 132 can engage with and disengage fromthe bar segment 122 for locking and unlocking the seat 104. Morespecifically, the latch 132 may engage with a first side of the barsegment 122 of the standing frame 102 to lock the seat 104 in the firstposition, and may engage with a second side of the bar segment 122opposite to the first side to lock the seat 104 in the second position.According to an example of construction, the bar segment 122 may have abending portion 138 at a central location of the bar segment 122 thatprotrudes away from the pivot axis Y of the seat 104, and the latch 132is rotatable relative to the seat 104 generally parallel to the barsegment 122 between a locking state engaged with the bending portion 138for locking the seat 104 in the first or second position, and anunlocking state disengaged from the bending portion 138 for unlockingthe seat 104. When the latch 132 is engaged with the bar segment 122,the bending portion 138 of the bar segment 122 may be restrictedly heldbetween the latch 132 at one side and the seat 104 at an opposite side.

Referring to FIG. 6, the spring 134 can be respectively connected withthe latch 132 and the seat 104. According to an example of construction,the spring 134 may be a torsion spring disposed around the pivot axis Zof the latch 132. The spring 134 can apply a biasing action that urgesthe latch 132 toward the locking state for locking engagement with thebar segment 122 of the standing frame 102.

According to an example of construction, the latch 132 may be exposed sothat a caregiver can directly operate the latch 132 with a hand forunlocking the seat 104. According to another example of construction,the locking mechanism 130 may further include a release actuator 140(better shown in FIG. 5) that is remotely connected with the latch 132and is operable to cause the latch 132 to unlock the seat 104. Forexample, the release actuator 140 may be slidably disposed on thebackrest portion 120 of the seat 104, and may be connected with thelatch 132 via a cable 142. The release actuator 140 is operable to pullon the cable 142, which in turn urges the latch 132 to rotate from thelocking state to the unlocking state for disengaging from the barsegment 122 of the standing frame 102.

In case a caregiver releases the release actuator 140 or the latch 132during adjustment of the seat 104 between the first and second position,the latch 132 may recover a position corresponding to the locking stateowing to the biasing action of the spring 134. Referring to FIGS. 5-7,the standing frame 102 may include two cam surfaces 144 and 146configured to displace the latch 132 for facilitating self-locking ofthe seat 104 in the first and second position. The cam surfaces 144 and146 can be fixedly connected with the support platform 124 (e.g.,adjacent to the calf support portion 126) at two opposite sides of thebending portion 138, and can respectively face the latch 132. Accordingto an example of construction, each of the cam surfaces 144 and 146 canrespectively be shaped as a portion of a spiral.

The cam surface 144 may be disposed above the bending portion 138 of thebar segment 122, and may be able to contact and push the latch 132 inmovement against the biasing action of the spring 134 as the seat 104approaches the first position for facilitating continued rotation of theseat 104 to the first position. Once the seat 104 reaches the firstposition, the latch 132 can disengage from the cam surface 144 and canbe urged by the spring 134 to engage with the bending portion 138 of thebar segment 122 for locking the seat 104 in position.

The cam surface 146 may be disposed below the bending portion 138 of thebar segment 122, and may be able to contact and push the latch 132 inmovement against the biasing action of the spring 134 as the seat 104approaches the second position for facilitating continued rotation ofthe seat 104 to the second position. Once the seat 104 reaches thesecond position, the latch 132 can disengage from the cam surface 146and can be urged by the spring 134 to engage with the bending portion138 of the bar segment 122 for locking the seat 104 in position.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6, the infant highchair 100A can furtherinclude a safety mechanism 148 configured to prevent accidental rotationof the seat 104 from the first position to the second position. FIG. 8is an enlarged view illustrating a portion of the safety mechanism 148.Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8, according to an example ofconstruction, the safety mechanism 148 can include an impeding part 150,a spring 152 (shown with phantom lines in FIG. 8) and a release actuator154. The impeding part 150 may be movably assembled with the standingframe 102. For example, the impeding part 150 may be pivotally connectedwith the standing frame 102, e.g., with the support platform 124 or thecalf support portion 126 of the standing frame 102. According to anexample of construction, the impeding part 150 can include a rodextending generally transversally along a width direction of the seat104 that has two opposite ends pivotally connected with the calf supportportion 126 of the standing frame 102. The impeding part 150 can therebyrotate about a pivot axis R that extends transversally from a left sideto a right side of the seat 104 between a hindering position and arelease position. According to an example of construction, the impedingpart 150 may be disposed adjacent to the calf support portion 126.

The impeding part 150 is configured to engage with the seat 104 forforcing the seat 104 to stop at an intermediate position during arotation of the seat 104 from the first position toward the secondposition while allowing continuous rotation of the seat 104 from thesecond position past the intermediate position to the first position.For example, the impeding part 150 may have two bending portions 158that protrude upward above the bar segment 122 and the support platform124 and are radially offset from the pivot axis R of the impeding part150, and the seat 104 can have two hooks 160 (better shown in FIG. 2)that are movable along with the seat 104 and can respectively engagewith and disengage from the two bending portions 158. During rotation ofthe seat 104 from the first position toward the second position, thehindering position of the impeding part 150 can force the seat 104 tostop at an intermediate position between the first and second positionowing to the engagement between the hooks 160 and the bending portions158. This intermediate position can be exemplary at an angle of about 15degrees from the first position. During rotation of the seat 104 fromthe second position toward the first position, the hooks 160 canrespectively contact and push against the bending portions 158 so thatthe impeding part 150 is forced by the seat 104 to rotate from thehindering position to the release position to allow continuous travel ofthe seat 104 past the intermediate position to the first position.

The spring 152 is shown with phantom lines in the enlarged view of FIG.8. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, the spring 152 can be configured to biasthe impeding part 150 toward the hindering position. According to anexample of construction, the spring 152 may be a compression springrespectively connected with the standing frame 102 (e.g., the supportplatform 124 or the calf support portion 126 of the standing frame 102)and the impeding part 150. More specifically, the spring 152 may beexemplarily disposed adjacent to the release actuator 154.

The release actuator 154 can be connected with the impeding part 150.For example, the release actuator 154 may be fixedly connected with theimpeding part 150 at a middle location between the two bending portions158. The release actuator 154 is operable to cause the impeding part 150to rotate from the hindering position to the release position againstthe biasing force of the spring 152, which can disengage the bendingportions 158 of the impeding part 150 from the hooks 160 of the seat104.

Exemplary operation of the safety mechanism 148 is described hereinafterwith reference to FIGS. 1-8. When the seat 104 is to be adjusted fromthe first position to the second position, the release actuator 140 canbe operated so as to cause the latch 132 to unlock the seat 104. Thenthe unlocked seat 104 can be rotated from the first position toward thesecond position. As the seat 104 rotates toward the second position andreaches the intermediate position, the hooks 160 of the seat 104 cancome into engagement with the impeding part 150 that is kept in thehindering position owing to the biasing force of the spring 152. As aresult, the seat 104 is forced to stop at the intermediate position. Therelease actuator 154 may be concealed when the seat 104 is in the firstposition, and become exposed for operation at a front of the seat 104when the seat 104 is in the intermediate position. For further rotatingthe seat 104 from the intermediate position to the second position, acaregiver has to operate the release actuator 154 to cause the impedingpart 150 to rotate from the hindering position to the release positionand disengage from the seat 104. Once the seat 104 is released from thehold of the impeding part 150, the seat 104 can be rotated from theintermediate position to the second position. By requiring a caregiver'smanual operation for disengaging the impeding part 150 from the seat104, the safety mechanism 148 can prevent accidental rotation of theseat 104 to the second position.

When the seat 104 is to be adjusted from the second position to thefirst position, the release actuator 140 can be operated to unlock theseat 104 like described previously. Then the unlocked seat 104 can berotated from the second position toward the first position. As the seat104 rotates toward the second position and approaches the intermediateposition, the hooks 160 of the seat 104 can have respective rampsurfaces 160A that contact and push against the bending portions 158 ofthe impeding part 150 so that the impeding part 150 is urged to rotatefrom the hindering position to the release position against the biasingforce of the spring 152. Accordingly, the safety mechanism 148 allowscontinuous rotation of the seat 104 from the second position past theintermediate position to the first position without the need ofoperating the release actuator 154.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views illustrating another embodiment ofan infant highchair 100B. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the infanthighchair 100B may have the same standing frame 102 like describedpreviously. Compared to the infant highchair 100A of the previousembodiment, the infant highchair 100B has a different construction ofthe seat 104 and does not include the support platform 124. Morespecifically, the seat 104 of the infant highchair 100B can have theseating surface 118 for receiving direct sitting of a child, and canfurther include a mount surface 170 suitable to receive the installationof a removable child seat. The seating surface 118 and the mount surface170 can be located at two opposite sides of the seat 104. Moreover, theseat 104 can further include a protruding portion on which a backrestportion 172 and a calf support portion 174 are provided. The backrestportion 172 and the calf support portion 174 can be disposed adjacent toeach other and face two opposite directions. Moreover, the calf supportportion 174 may have the footrest 127. The seat 104 including theseating surface 118, the mount surface 170, the backrest portion 172 andthe calf support portion 174 may be provided as a unitary part.Accordingly, the seating surface 118, the mount surface 170, thebackrest portion 172 and the calf support portion 174 can move in unisonwhen the seat 104 rotates relative to the standing frame 102.

Like described previously, the seat 104 can be pivotally connected withthe standing frame 102 about the bar segment 122, which can extendbetween the seating surface 118 and the mount surface 170 of the seat104. The seat 104 of the infant highchair 100B is thereby rotatablebetween multiple positions corresponding to different configurations ofuse. For example, the seat 104 can be rotated to a first position (shownin FIG. 9) corresponding to a first configuration of use where a childcan sit on the seat 104 in contact with the seating surface 118, and asecond position (shown in FIG. 10) corresponding to a secondconfiguration of use where a removable child seat can be installed onthe seat 104 in contact with the mount surface 170 thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the infant highchair 100B can furtherinclude a locking mechanism 178 operable to lock the seat 104 in thefirst and second position. The locking mechanism 178 can include thesame latch 132 and spring 134 (shown with phantom lines in FIG. 10)provided in the infant highchair 100A. Like previously described, thelatch 132 may be pivotally connected with the seat 104 about the pivotaxis Z, and can rotate to engage and disengage two opposite sides of thebar segment 122 for locking or unlocking the seat 104 in the first andsecond positions. The spring 134 can be exemplary a torsion springdisposed around the pivot axis Z of the latch 132, and can berespectively connected with the latch 132 and the seat 104. The spring134 can apply a biasing action that urges the latch 132 toward a lockingstate for locking engagement with the bar segment 122 of the standingframe 102.

According to an example of construction, the latch 132 may be exposed sothat a caregiver can directly operate the latch 132 with a hand forunlocking the seat 104. According to another example of construction,the latch 132 may be connected with a release actuator (not shown) thatis operable to cause the latch 132 to unlock the seat 104.

Exemplary operation of the infant highchair 100B will be describedhereinafter with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. When the seat 104 is inthe first position shown in FIG. 9, the seating surface 118 can faceupward and the backrest portion 172 can face forward and extend abovethe seating surface 118, which allows a child to sit on the seat 104 incontact with the seating surface 118 with the child's back restingagainst the backrest portion 172. The seat 104 can be locked in thefirst position by the engagement of the latch 132 with a first side ofthe bar segment 122 like described previously. The first position of theseat 104 can correspond to a first configuration of use in which a childcan directly sit on the seat 104 integrated with the infant highchair100B. In the first position, the mount surface 170 can face downward,which disables the use of the mount surface 170 for installing aremovable child seat. Moreover, the calf support portion 174 can bepositioned at a rear when the seat 104 is in the first position, whichdisables the use of the calf support portion 174 for supporting thecalves of a child sitting on the seating surface 118.

For installing a removable child seat on the infant highchair 100B, thelatch 132 can be operated to disengage from the bar segment 122 andthereby unlock the seat 104, and the seat 104 then can be rotated aboutthe pivot axis Y to the second position shown in FIG. 10. When the seat104 is in the second position, the seating surface 118 can face downwardand the mount surface 170 can face upward, which is suitable to receiveinstallation of a removable child seat on the seat 104 in contact withthe mount surface 170 while disabling seating of a child on the seatingsurface 118. The seat 104 can be locked in the second position by theengagement of the latch 132 with a second side of the bar segment 122opposite to the first side. The second position of the seat 104 cancorrespond to a second configuration of use in which a removable childseat can be installed on the infant highchair 100B for seating a child,the removable child seat being engaged with and supported by the seat104. In the second position, the calf support portion 174 can extenddownward from a front of the mount surface 170, which can providesupport for the calves of a child who sits on the removable child seatinstalled on the mount surface 170.

Advantages of the structures described herein include the ability toprovide an infant highchair that has a seat rotatable between multiplepositions corresponding to different configurations of use. The seat maybe adjusted to a first position corresponding to a configuration of usewhere a child can directly sit on the seat, and a second positioncorresponding to another configuration of use where a removable childseat can be installed over the seat for seating a child on the removablechild seat. Accordingly, the infant highchair described herein canprovide a more flexible use and may be adapted to receive children ofdifferent ages.

Realizations of the infant highchair have been described in the contextof particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to beillustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications,additions, and improvements are possible. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope ofthe inventions as defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. An infant highchair comprising: a standing frame;a seat pivotally connected with the standing frame and having a seatingsurface, the seat being rotatable between a first and a second position,the first position allowing a child to sit in contact with the seatingsurface, and the second position being suitable to receive installationof a removable child seat over the seat while disabling seating of achild on the seating surface; and a locking mechanism operable to lockthe seat in the first and second position.
 2. The infant highchairaccording to claim 1, wherein the standing frame includes a supportplatform, and the seating surface moves around the support platform whenthe seat rotates relative to the standing frame, the second position ofthe seat uncovering the support platform so that a removable child seatis installable over the seat at least partially supported in contactwith the support platform.
 3. The infant highchair according to claim 2,wherein the seating surface is located above the support platform in thefirst position and below the support platform in the second position. 4.The infant highchair according to claim 2, wherein the standing framehas a calf support portion fixedly connected with the support platform.5. The infant highchair according to claim 1, wherein the seat furtherhas a mount surface suitable to receive installation of a removablechild seat, the first position of the seat allowing a child to sit onthe seat in contact with the seating surface, and the second position ofthe seat allowing installation of a removable child seat on the seat incontact with the mount surface.
 6. The infant highchair according toclaim 5, wherein the seating surface and the mount surface are locatedat two opposite sides of the seat, the seating surface facing upward inthe first position, and the mount surface facing upward in the secondposition.
 7. The infant highchair according to claim 1, wherein the seathas a backrest portion and a calf support portion disposed adjacent toeach other that face two opposite directions, the backrest portion beingconfigured to provide resting support for a child's back when the seatis in the first position, and the calf support portion being configuredto provide support for the calves of a child when the seat is in thesecond position.
 8. The infant highchair according to claim 1, whereinthe locking mechanism includes a latch that is assembled with the seat,the latch being engaged with the standing frame to lock the seat in thefirst and second position and disengaged from the standing frame tounlock the seat for rotation of the seat between the first and secondposition.
 9. The infant highchair according to claim 8, wherein thestanding frame includes a bar segment, and the latch respectivelyengages with a first side of the bar segment to lock the seat in thefirst position and with a second side of the bar segment opposite to thefirst side to lock the seat in the second position.
 10. The infanthighchair according to claim 9, wherein the seat is pivotally connectedabout the bar segment.
 11. The infant highchair according to claim 9,wherein the latch is pivotally connected with the seat, and the barsegment has a bending portion, the latch being rotatable relative to theseat between a locking state engaged with the bending portion forlocking the seat in the first or second position, and an unlocking statedisengaged from the bending portion for unlocking the seat.
 12. Theinfant highchair according to claim 8, wherein the latch is pivotallyconnected with the seat about a pivot axis that extends substantiallyvertically when the infant highchair stands on a floor surface.
 13. Theinfant highchair according to claim 8, wherein the locking mechanismfurther includes a spring and a release actuator respectively connectedwith the latch, the spring applying a biasing action that urges thelatch toward a locking state for locking engagement with the standingframe, and the release actuator being operable to cause the latch todisengage from the standing frame for unlocking the seat.
 14. The infanthighchair according to claim 13, wherein the standing frame includes afirst and a second cam surface, the first cam surface being adapted tocontact and push the latch in movement against the biasing action of thespring as the seat approaches the first position for facilitatingcontinued rotation of the seat to the first position, and the second camsurface being adapted to contact and push the latch in movement againstthe biasing action of the spring as the seat approaches the secondposition for facilitating continued rotation of the seat to the secondposition, the latch being disengaged from the first cam surface when theseat reaches the first position and disengaged from the second camsurface when the seat reaches the second position.
 15. The infanthighchair according to claim 13, wherein the release actuator isdisposed on a backrest portion of the seat and is connected with thelatch via a cable.
 16. The infant highchair according to claim 8,further including an impeding part assembled with the standing frame,and a second release actuator connected with the impeding part, theimpeding part being configured to engage with the seat for forcing theseat to stop at an intermediate position during a rotation of the seatfrom the first position toward the second position while allowingcontinuous rotation of the seat from the second position past theintermediate position to the first position, and the second releaseactuator being operable to cause the impeding part to disengage from theseat in the intermediate position for rotation of the seat from theintermediate position to the second position.
 17. The infant highchairaccording to claim 16, wherein the second release actuator is concealedwhen the seat is in the first position, and becomes exposed foroperation when the seat is in the intermediate position.
 18. The infanthighchair according to claim 16, wherein the impeding part is pivotallyconnected with the standing frame, and the seat has a hook movable alongwith the seat, the hook coming into engagement with the impeding part toforce the seat to stop in the intermediate position during a rotation ofthe seat from the first position toward the second position.
 19. Aninfant highchair comprising: a standing frame having a calf supportportion; a seat pivotally connected with the standing frame and having aseating surface, the seat being rotatable relative to the standing frameand the calf support portion between a first and a second position, thefirst position allowing a child to sit in contact with the seatingsurface, and the second position being suitable to receive installationof a removable child seat over the seat while disabling seating of achild on the seating surface; and a locking mechanism operable to lockthe seat in the first and second position.
 20. The infant highchairaccording to claim 19, wherein the standing frame further includes asupport platform fixedly connected with the calf support portion, andthe seating surface moves around the support platform when the seatrotates relative to the standing frame and the calf support portion, thesecond position of the seat uncovering the support platform so that aremovable child seat is installable over the seat at least partiallysupported in contact with the support platform.
 21. The infant highchairaccording to claim 20, wherein the seating surface is located above thesupport platform in the first position and below the support platform inthe second position.
 22. The infant highchair according to claim 19,wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch that is assembled withthe seat, the latch being engaged with the standing frame to lock theseat in the first and second position and disengaged from the standingframe to unlock the seat for rotation of the seat between the first andsecond position.
 23. The infant highchair according to claim 22, whereinthe standing frame includes a bar segment, and the latch respectivelyengages with a first side of the bar segment to lock the seat in thefirst position and with a second side of the bar segment opposite to thefirst side to lock the seat in the second position.
 24. The infanthighchair according to claim 23, wherein the seat is pivotally connectedabout the bar segment.
 25. The infant highchair according to claim 22,wherein the locking mechanism further includes a spring and a releaseactuator respectively connected with the latch, the spring applying abiasing action that urges the latch toward a locking state for lockingengagement with the standing frame, and the release actuator beingoperable to cause the latch to disengage from the standing frame forunlocking the seat.
 26. An infant highchair comprising: a standingframe; a seat pivotally connected with the standing frame, wherein theseat includes a seating surface, and a backrest portion and a calfsupport portion disposed adjacent to each other that face two oppositedirections, the seat being rotatable relative to the standing framebetween a first and a second position, the first position allowing achild to sit in contact with the seating surface, and the secondposition being suitable to receive installation of a removable childseat over the seat while disabling seating of a child on the seatingsurface, the backrest portion being configured to provide restingsupport for a child's back when the seat is in the first position, andthe calf support portion being configured to provide support for thecalves of a child when the seat is in the second position; and a lockingmechanism operable to lock the seat in the first and second position.27. The infant highchair according to claim 26, wherein the seat furtherhas a mount surface suitable to receive installation of a removablechild seat, the first position of the seat allowing a child to sit onthe seat in contact with the seating surface, and the second position ofthe seat allowing installation of a removable child seat on the seat incontact with the mount surface.
 28. The infant highchair according toclaim 27, wherein the seating surface and the mount surface are locatedat two opposite sides of the seat, the seating surface facing upward inthe first position, and the mount surface facing upward in the secondposition.
 29. The infant highchair according to claim 26, wherein thelocking mechanism includes a latch that is assembled with the seat, thelatch being engaged with the standing frame to lock the seat in thefirst and second position and disengaged from the standing frame tounlock the seat for rotation of the seat between the first and secondposition.
 30. The infant highchair according to claim 29, wherein thelocking mechanism further includes a spring connected with the latch,the spring applying a biasing action that urges the latch toward alocking state for locking engagement with the standing frame.
 31. Theinfant highchair according to claim 29, wherein the standing frameincludes a bar segment, and the latch respectively engages with a firstside of the bar segment to lock the seat in the first position and witha second side of the bar segment opposite to the first side to lock theseat in the second position.
 32. The infant highchair according to claim31, wherein the seat is pivotally connected about the bar segment.